RBIL aims to expand our focus on rural innovation businesses in agriculture, ag tech, sustainability, construction, waste management, water reclamation, workforce development, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our current industry focuses on accelerating and building resilience within the natural resource and new climate economy value-chain. RBIL has four main objectives:

What do you get for participating?

RBIL supports entrepreneurs from all backgrounds, addressing unique challenges faced by BIPOC, women, veterans, and LGBTQ+ individuals in rural Minnesota. The aim is to provide equal access and promote culturally relevant business practices. 

The 2024 Rural Business Innovation Lab cohort consists of the following entities:

Baptism River Barbeque

Silver Bay, MN

Baptism River Barbeque produces smoked meats and sides featuring locally sourced produce, animals, and hardwoods grown along Lake Superior’s north shore. They are creating a true northwoods barbecue that you can’t get anywhere else.

Bayl

Northfield, MN

Rooted in the Midwestern plains, Bayl creates heirloom-quality woolen goods. Born from collaborations, and a connection to the more-than-human world- it is an expression of the human tradition of shepherding and is now reimagining the future of ethical apparel.

Fiddlehead Knob

Le Roy, MN

Fiddlehead Knob is a fourth-generation family farm committed to local food & sustainability. As a fully solar-powered farm they specialize in cultivating & foraging a wide a wide variety of mushrooms year-round, which they sell at area farmer’s markets, restaurants, and food hubs.

Rustic Roots

Alexandria, MN

Rustic Roots Farm is a small family farm whose mission is to balance sustainable natural resources with a blend of innovative techniques and traditional methods to produce the highest quality products for their customers. The farm was started to spread the values of independence, hard work, self-reliance, perseverance, and creative thinking.

Cannon Valley Graziers

Northfield, MN

With backgrounds in agriculture, land management, and conservation ecology, they set out on a mission to have a positive impact on the ecology, soil health and water quality of Southern Minnesota. Cannon Valley Graziers specializes in adaptive grazing & targeted vegetation management.

Embark Maple

Viroqua, WI

Embark starts with organic Maple Syrup, harvested from a farm in the Driftless region of Wisconsin. All of our products are made from real, simple foods, certified organic and of the highest quality. Organic Maple Syrup from our farm and a pinch of Sea Salt provides the energy, electrolytes and nutrition found in commercial energy gels, with easily digested, outstanding flavor.

Simple Cider Co.

Annandale, MN

Simple Cider Co. is a hand-crafted family experience where parents unwind, and kids thrive! Serving both hard cider and NA juice, Simple Cider Co. has set out to build an adult- and kid-friendly space, redefining what “open to all ages” truly means.

Get Bentz Farm

Northfield, MN

This farm raises Icelandic and Icelandic cross sheep on a beautiful section of land that overlooks the Cannon River Valley. Here you can find a variety of products from their sheep including yarn, meat, and sheepskins. They also have a woolen mill which is home to Badgerface Fiber.  They source local fibers, paying a fair wage for their raw materials, and turn them into beautiful roving, yarn, and rug yarn.

Driftless Seeds

Ferryville, WI

Grown In And For The Midwest. At Driftless Seed Supply, they dig deep to offer high-quality seeds and supplies with integrity and transparency for Midwest growers. They provide locally produced, regionally adapted vegetable, flower and native prairie seeds, with a priority to offer certified organic seed when possible.

Lavender Barnyard

Farmington, MN

The lavender barnyard is a family farm that not only grows and sells native Minnesota lavender but provides a space for inspiration, tranquility, and well-being. Whether you want to buy some relaxing lavender lotion or go and pick your own fresh lavender, there’s a way for anyone to feel relaxed on this farm.

Lakota Made

Mankato, MN

This company makes indigenous first herbal remedies and eco-friendly personal care products. Megan L. Schnitker is an Indigenous Traditional Herbalist, she has no formal education in this other than her own research and learning from her elders. All products are locally sustainably harvested made with filtered beeswax, organic sunflower oil or organic olive oil.

The cohort’s formation was a natural outcome, with applicants chosen based on their alignment with program goals and their potential for growth and innovation. 

CEDA’s Rural Business Innovation Lab is committed to supporting rural entrepreneurs and fostering economic growth. With a focus on sustainability, climate change mitigation, and operational scalability, the program sets the stage for the participating businesses and nonprofits to thrive and make a lasting impact in their communities.

The Rural Business Innovation Lab is supported by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and Compeer Financial.